CO₂-enriched atmosphere improves in vitro growth of Brazilian ginseng [Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen]

• Published in: In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Plant 2013-08, Vol.49 (4), p.433-444
• Main Authors: Saldanha, Cleber Witt, Otoni, Caio Gomide, Notini, Marcela Morato, Kuki, Kacilda Naomi, da Cruz, Ana Cláudia Ferreira, Neto, Aurélio Rubio, Dias, Leonardo Lucas Carnevalli, Otoni, Wagner Campos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brazilian culture; Carbon dioxide; carbon dioxide enrichment; Cell Biology; culture media; Developmental Biology; ecdysterone; Endangered species; Flowers & plants; growth and development; Leaf area; Leaves; Life Sciences; Membranes; Metabolites; Microbiology; Micropropagation; Pfaffia glomerata; PHYSIOLOGY; pigments; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant cells; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant growth; Plant Sciences; Plantlets; Plants; Studies; Sucrose; Ventilation; Ventilation systems; Water content; Water loss
• ISSN: 1054-5476; 1475-2689
• DOI: 10.1007/s11627-013-9529-5

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of forced ventilation and CO₂ enrichment (360 or 720 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂) on the in vitro growth and development of Pfaffia glomerata, an endangered medicinal species, under photomixotrophic or photoautotrophic conditions. P. glomerata nodal segments showed substantial differences in growth, relative water content and water loss from leaves, photosynthetic pigments, stomatal density, and leaf anatomical characteristics under these different treatments. CO₂ enrichment led to increased photosynthetic pigments and reduced stomatal density of in vitro cultivated P. glomerata. A lack of sucrose in the culture medium increased 20-hydroxyecdysone levels, but the increase in CO₂ levels did not further elevate the accumulation of 20-hydroxyecdysone. All growth increased in a CO₂-enriched atmosphere. In addition, CO₂ enrichment, with or without sucrose, gave a lower relative water loss from leaves. This finding indicates that either a photoautotrophic or photomixotrophic system in a CO₂-enriched atmosphere may be suitable for large-scale propagation of this species.